23 March 2011

"Bike Lift" for Citizen Cyclists

One of the great ideas in bicycle design that has sadly, largely, disappeared. Once standard on many bicycles, this handle helped the bicycle user lift the bike up stairs, over curbs (if laden with shopping) or any number of similar situation. It appears that it was particularly popular on Swedish bicycles.

Attached to the downtube, the handle is at a perfect position for a well-balanced lift. I've tried it.
While something like the hook on the back rack is still around, you don't see this simple, practical accessory anymore, not even on bicycles in mainstream bicycle culture. A fact that we lament.

But here it is. Let's see which bike brand is the first to reestablish the bike lift handle on newer models. The race is on.

19 comments:

Brilliant little accessory for a bicycle. Never seen one before myself. I'll have to pass this along to some of the custom frame builders in the area to see if one will start incorporating these in their bikes.

I have similar handle in one late 50's bicycle. I must say that it's very practical to have, and I've also been wondering the lack of them in new bikes for years.

Location of handle is important and not accidental - you can easily lift and carry the bike with one hand, as it's located roughly on center of gravity of bike, so bike doesn't twist and turn on it's own. Also, it's better than top tube (or "top horizontal bar") because you can keep your carrying arm relaxed and straight. Plus you don't get dirt on your clothes so easily.

I made a similar handle to my everyday commuter by installing U-lock on seat post upside down (ie. curve up, lock pointing down). Kryptonite Evo had suitable mounting bracket, some others might have too.

Or you can just grab the midpoint of seat tube (see pic 3.):http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2010/11/up-lifting-experiences.html

(sorry about the long comment, but I've carried my bike up and down several sets of long stairs daily for years...)

Yes, that's the easiest way to lift a bike unless you're wearing gloves or the frame is wet / covered in dirt etc. A handle like this still seems like a good idea. It's just one of those little things which makes cycling easier.

It's an absolutely ingenious gadget, really. I know. I own a Crescent bicycle of about the same vintage (c.1947) as the one in the photo, and as it weighs about 22 kg in all its mighty solidness, the handle is a lot easier to use than just grabbing the seat tube or hanging it on the shoulder. Of course, with my lightweight bikes, the shoulder works fine, but not with this tank!

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